Does anyone believe that DOT cares what Moore County residents think? These people came here and lied, yes lied, to us about this freeway. National security. Well, maybe not. Required by law? Well, maybe not. Shearon Harris evacuation. Oops, not true either. This is all about keeping budgets and staff at DOT. I went to one of the meetings and the DOT speaker said, point blank, that they plan to build this whether we want it or not. They'll build it where they want it unless we fight them. The charettes were just window dressing. The "plan" is for roads we want, not the roads DOT wants. They'll build those anyway. This freeway is not in the best interests of the state as a whole just because these bureaucrats tell us it is. The same bureaucrats who didn't bother to study traffic patterns before deciding we need a freeway? For all that commerce coming from Rockingham? Please. No wonder the state and country are broke. No wonder most people don't trust government. Let's focus on real priorities and needs.
As a birder, I have walked in the Walthour-Moss Foundation often, and it is open to the public. So I respectfully disagree that it is a "protected preserves of the wealthy equestrian community." That open space is part of what makes this such a special area. What would our area look like without all that open space? More development that would require government services and drive up Moore County taxes? More development that would limit training at Fort Bragg? Fort Bragg loves Horse Country because, unlike development next to base in other neighboring counties, it is low density and doesn't force training farther into the reservation. The horse people spend their money in town. They and people who come here for horse shows spend money in local restaurants, hotels, and shops. Why would we want to destroy Horse Country and drive them away? I sure like the scenic roads and my pocketbook sure likes county taxes that they pay without getting any real services out there. That's good for everyone. I hope our local officials don't get bulldozed by DOT. DOT engineers just care about building roads, because that's their job, and economic effects on our communities are irrelevant. How do you think that those businesses in Vass are doing after the bypass was built several years ago? How would downtown Aberdeen and Southern Pines do with Big Box retailers out on a bypass? That's certainly not good for our towns. DOT engineers and the highway construction contractors just want to keep laying pavement on the taxpayers' dime. Whether we need it or not!
SandhillsCitizen 1 year, 3 months ago
Arguments for Freeway Don't Make Sense
Does anyone believe that DOT cares what Moore County residents think? These people came here and lied, yes lied, to us about this freeway. National security. Well, maybe not. Required by law? Well, maybe not. Shearon Harris evacuation. Oops, not true either. This is all about keeping budgets and staff at DOT. I went to one of the meetings and the DOT speaker said, point blank, that they plan to build this whether we want it or not. They'll build it where they want it unless we fight them. The charettes were just window dressing. The "plan" is for roads we want, not the roads DOT wants. They'll build those anyway. This freeway is not in the best interests of the state as a whole just because these bureaucrats tell us it is. The same bureaucrats who didn't bother to study traffic patterns before deciding we need a freeway? For all that commerce coming from Rockingham? Please. No wonder the state and country are broke. No wonder most people don't trust government. Let's focus on real priorities and needs.
SandhillsCitizen 1 year, 7 months ago
Bypass Routing At Issue
As a birder, I have walked in the Walthour-Moss Foundation often, and it is open to the public. So I respectfully disagree that it is a "protected preserves of the wealthy equestrian community." That open space is part of what makes this such a special area. What would our area look like without all that open space? More development that would require government services and drive up Moore County taxes? More development that would limit training at Fort Bragg? Fort Bragg loves Horse Country because, unlike development next to base in other neighboring counties, it is low density and doesn't force training farther into the reservation. The horse people spend their money in town. They and people who come here for horse shows spend money in local restaurants, hotels, and shops. Why would we want to destroy Horse Country and drive them away? I sure like the scenic roads and my pocketbook sure likes county taxes that they pay without getting any real services out there. That's good for everyone. I hope our local officials don't get bulldozed by DOT. DOT engineers just care about building roads, because that's their job, and economic effects on our communities are irrelevant. How do you think that those businesses in Vass are doing after the bypass was built several years ago? How would downtown Aberdeen and Southern Pines do with Big Box retailers out on a bypass? That's certainly not good for our towns. DOT engineers and the highway construction contractors just want to keep laying pavement on the taxpayers' dime. Whether we need it or not!